They train their bodies, study weather patterns, practice using climbing equipment, and learn how to recognize warning signs from altitude and exhaustion. They also have to make difficult decisions about when to continue and when to turn back. Another frightening reality is that Everest doesn’t always look as dangerous as it is. A blue sky and calm weather can create a false sense of security.
Conditions can change rapidly, and a route that was safe earlier can become hazardous later. The mountain also creates a strange contrast. Thousands of people have dreamed about seeing the world from its summit, yet the closer they get to that dream, the more hostile the environment becomes. At extreme altitude, the human body simply isn’t designed to function normally.
